The first qualifying session of the 2023 season saw the first two class pole positions claimed by Graff Racing and Racing Spirit of Leman.
LMP3
The battle for the first championship point of the 2023 season was closely fought between James Sweetman in the no39 Graff Racing and Julien Gerbi in the no16 Team Virage Ligiers.
Gerbi went to the top of the timing screens just before the first red flag halted the session, the no22 United Autosports Ligier of Gerald Kraut spinning off into the gravel trap.The time was deleted and Gerbi fell back behind Sweetnam as the session resumed with just under 6 minutes remaining.
A second red flag was shown a couple of minutes later when the no48 Murphy Prototyopes Duqueine spun and stopped on track.The session was resumed but the times did not improve before the chequered flag was shown.
The no39 Graff Racing Ligier claimed pole with Sweetnam’s best lap of 1m36.962 finishing 0.214s ahead of the no16 Team Virage Ligier.The no68 M Racing Ligier of Hugo Delacour was third quickest with a 1m37.288, 0.117s ahead of former champion Tony Wells in the no7 Nielsen Racing Ligier.
GT3
Reigning LMP3 Champions Racing Spirit of Leman got their GT3 season off to a great start with the no10 Aston Martin Vantage claiming pole position with Arnold Robin at the wheel.The French driver headed the timing screens for most of the 15-minute session but posted his best time of 1m42.444 just before the chequered flag.
There were a few challengers for the top spot with Hiroshi Koizumi in the no51 AF Corse finishing the session as the best of the rest, the Japanese driver finishing on a 1m42.743.Third spot went to Tim Creswick in the no86 HCR WITH CAFFEINESIX Porsche 911, the British driver pushing a little too hard at Turn 5 towards the end of the session and spinning off before rejoining.
The opening round of the 2023 Michelin Le Mans Cup will take place at 17h30 CEST later today. Watch it live on the official website HERE.
CLICK HERE for the results from qualifying for the Barcelona Round.
